Cutter chain



April 24, 1934. w. A. HAMILTON CUTTER CHAIN Filed July 8, 1931 L J L INVENTOR J4. [Ia/nil? ll ATTORNEYS ?atented Apr. 24, 1934 @UNETEE STATES PATENT GFFIE 3 Claims.

7 This invention relates to cutter chains and more particularly to flexible cutter chains of the detachable link type. Heretofore in the art many types of cutter chains have been proposed. All of such chains however have had some defect or disadvantage in construction, assembly, operation or durability which it is the object of this invention to overcome.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cutter chain with reversible link parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flexible cutter chain in which the flexibility thereof is restricted substantially to a direction normal to the cutter bit bearing face of the chain.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention is more fully disclosed.

In accordance with the objects of the present invention I have devised a novel type of flexible cutter chain comprised substantially of a plurality of cutter bit bearing links and interconnecting links, each link of which is reversible end to end, the ends thereof interlocking in a simple expedient manner to form a chain substantially free from flexibility in any direction except that normal to the cutter bit face of the chain; substantially free from interlink end to end play; and of great strength and durability, all as will be more fully hereinafter disclosed.

Before further disclosing the present invention reference should be made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a linked section of the cutter chain of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along plane 33 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4.- is a sectional view taken along plane 4-4 Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the cutter bit link; and

ig. 6 is a perspective view of the connecting link.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l, the section of the cutter chain shown comprises two cutter bit links 1, (illustrated in perspective in Fig. 5) in interlocking relationship with a connecting link 2, (illustrated in perspective in Fig. 6). The manner of eifecting the interlocking of the two elements is illustrated in dotted lines at the right of the figure showing the connecting link 2 in a position to be removed from the interlocking relationship with the cutter bit link 1.

The cutter bit link of the present invention comprises a usual head or block portion 1, having a recessed opening 3 to receive the cutter bit, and means such as set screw 4 to retain the bit therein. The head or block portion is supported upon a base or shank portion 5. A ledge 6 is provided on each side of the shank to engage the cutter chain housing. The shank 5 is provided with lon itudinally extending hook shaped end portions 7, each having a circular recess or bearing section 8 and an opening 9 thereto which is of less width than the diameter of the bearing section 8. The position of the opening 9 in the longitudinally extending end section '7 is preferably as illustrated, as in this position it provides the maximum protection from accidental disconnecting of the links. However it is apparent that the opening may be made in the end section in a plurality of positions angular to the longitudinal axis of the link without departing essentially from the inventive idea of the present invention.

The shape, contour and configuration of each hook portion is identical so that each end pair thereof present the bearing surfaces 8 lying in substantially the same plane. The cutter bit link may be either cast or forged into shape and may be comprised of various materials. Each cutter bit link is identical in size, shape and configuration. Whereas I have shown a bit carrying link having two parallel spaced shank portions 5, it is apparent that the shank may be single rather than double if desired.

The connecting link is made in a similar manner to that employed in forming the cutter bit link, although it may be initially cast nearly to size. It comprises substantially a rib portion 2, a base 10 and spaced circular pin members 11. The base 10 carries a ledge section 12 to engage the cutter chain housing as does ledge 6. Circular pin members 11 are of substantially the same diameter as bearing opening 8 in the shank of the cutter bit link, the top and bottom diameter of each pin is reduced or flattened to approximate or less than the width of opening 9 of the shank. Either end of the connecting link can therefore be interlocked in either end of the cutter bit link. To connect the two links it is only necessary to turn the connecting link at right angles to the cutter bit link, slip the flattened diameter of the pin 11 through opening 9 and then rotate the connecting link back to lie in the same plane as the cutter bit link.

By providing relatively large bearing faces in the hooked ends 7 a rocking of the pin members 11 therein is substantially eliminated. By closely approximating the dimensional measurements of end sections 13 in the connecting link 2 to that of the space 14 between the hooked end sections 7 of the cutter bit link the strength and rigidity of the link structure is increased.

Referring to Fig. 2 a bottom view of the cutter chain is shown illustrating how by the interlocking of the cutter bit link and the connecting link a recess for the driving sprocket teeth is made.

From the above description and drawing it is apparent that the specific embodiment of the present invention may be modified structurally in many details without departing essentially from the nature and scope thereof, and such modifications and departures are anticipated as may fall Within the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed:

1. A flexible cutter chain comprised of cutter bit links and connecting links disposed in alternate articulated arrangement throughout the length of said chain, the said cutter bit links carrying on each end thereof a pair of spaced bearing recesses, said recesses lying substantially in the same horizontal plane with each pair of recesses lying concentrically in the same vertical plane and parallel to the opposite pair, and said connecting links carrying on each end thereof a pair of spaced pin members adapted to be received in either of said pair of bearing recesses to connect the cutter bit link and connecting link together substantially free from end or side play between the links.

2. In a flexible cutter chain of the type described and claimed in claim 1, a cutter bit link comprising a cutter bit carrying head section, a shank section, laterally extending guide ledges on said shank section, a pair of parallel spaced and longitudinally extending arcuate end sections on each end of said shank section, bearing recesses in each of said end sections, each of said recesses lying in substantially the same horizontal plane with the center axes of each end pair in substantially the same plane transverse to and perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of said shank, the openings to said bearing recesses being disposed in said arcuate end sections in the outside upper quarter section of the arc of said arcuate section and being of lesser width than the diameter of said bearing recesses.

3. In a flexible cutter chain of the type described and claimed in claim 1, a connecting link comprising a base section carrying laterally extending guide ledges and a longitudinally extending rib section, laterally extending pin members on each side of each end of said rib section, said pin members lying in substantially the same horizontal plane with each end pair having their longitudinal in substantial alignment, the top and bottom sections of said pin members being flattened to make the diameter thereacross less than the original diameter of the pin member.

WILLIAM A. HAMILTON. 

